AutocutsOpen the recorder
Launch Autocuts. The recorder pill shows a source for the screen, the camera, the microphone, and system audio.
Internal audio on macOS
How to record your screen with internal audio on a Mac.
Internal audio is the sound your Mac plays: app alerts, video playback, call audio, and music. macOS hides it from QuickTime, which is why so many guides tell you to install BlackHole. You do not have to.
No BlackHoleNo output switchVoice on its own track
The problem
Why QuickTime cannot record internal audio
QuickTime Player captures the screen and a microphone. It has no system-audio source. Apple never added one. So a QuickTime screen recording of a video call, a game, or a product walkthrough arrives silent where the app sound should be.
The usual workaround is BlackHole, a free virtual audio driver. You install it, build a multi-output device in Audio MIDI Setup, then point your Mac output at that device. It works. It also means your own speakers go quiet, your levels move, and you must undo the whole setup afterwards.
- QuickTime records a microphone only
- BlackHole needs a driver install and a multi-output device
- Your Mac output changes for the length of the take
- You have to reverse the setup after every session
Record internal audio on a Mac in five steps
Turn on System Audio
Click System Audio. Autocuts captures what your Mac plays. No driver install and no output-device change.
Add your microphone
Open the device menu and pick an input. Your voice records separately from the app sound.
Choose and record
Select a display, a window, or an area, then start. Both audio sources record with the video.
Caption and export
Export MP4 or WebM up to 4K at 60 fps. Transcription runs on your Mac and gives you captions, SRT, and VTT.
How do I record my screen with internal audio on a Mac?
Open Autocuts, click System Audio in the recorder pill, pick a microphone if you narrate, then choose a display, window, or area and start. Internal audio is a switch, not a setup project. The feature page covers the detail: screen recorder with audio.
Do I need BlackHole to record internal audio on a Mac?
No. BlackHole is a virtual audio driver that exists because QuickTime has no system-audio source. It works, but it forces a multi-output device and an output switch that mutes your own speakers while you record. Autocuts captures internal audio directly, so there is nothing to install and nothing to change back.
Why does QuickTime not record internal audio?
QuickTime Player captures the screen and a microphone only. App sound, video playback, and call audio are missing unless you route them through a third-party driver. The Autocuts vs QuickTime comparison lists the rest of the gaps.
Can I record internal audio and my microphone at the same time?
Yes. Turn on System Audio and select a microphone before you start. Autocuts keeps them as separate sources, so a loud app does not bury your voice. The step-by-step version lives in the system audio help article.
Does this work on MacBook Air and MacBook Pro?
Yes. Internal audio capture works the same on every Apple Silicon Mac, including MacBook Air M1, M2, M3, and M4, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini. See the MacBook screen recorder page for the per-model detail.
Can I record internal audio without a microphone?
Yes. Turn System Audio on and leave the microphone off to capture only app sound. That suits a silent product demo where you add narration or a scripted voice track later.
Internal audio, without the driver.
Download the Mac screen recorder that captures system sound and your voice in one take.
Download for Mac